We do lots of Meet The Breeds events. But with the Kooikers, even walking down the street or posting a cute picture on Facebook turns into an impromptu MTB Q&A session. I do find that while there is plenty of information about Kooikers out there, most websites don't hit on the biggest questions people ask, … Continue reading Kooiker FAQ!
Kooikerhondjes as bird dogs
This Christmas weekend, Casper and I went out with a friend for a reserve hunt, where I was able to focus on shooting photos instead of birds so I could write this post! We had a great time, and it was northern-dog Casper's first time on southern-bird bobwhite quail, so it took him a few … Continue reading Kooikerhondjes as bird dogs
Kooikerhondje Info for Veterinarians
As it's highly likely that a new Kooikerhondje owner's dog will be the first individual of the breed seen by any given veterinary clinic, a few years ago I drafted a "handout" for the H&G Committee, intended to be a brief summary of Kooiker health. This is not meant as medical advice, merely a primer … Continue reading Kooikerhondje Info for Veterinarians
Contribute to Kooiker behavioral research
The VHNK and Utrecht University have published a new survey attempting to gather behavioral data about your Kooikerhondje. This is an important opportunity to contribute to ongoing research towards the development of characterizing temperament in the developing Kooiker breeding management app. You'll need your dog's microchip #, registration # and registered name. Find links here: … Continue reading Contribute to Kooiker behavioral research
Kooikerhondjes vs. Cheetahs – a conservation case study
Kooikerhondje images from the VHNK. Cheetah photos by Etienne Steenkamp and Jean Witterlin. What do Kooikerhondjes and Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) have in common? Not much on the surface, but as it turns out, they share aspects of their history, genetics and population dynamics that may be illuminating in the pursuit of breed preservation - the … Continue reading Kooikerhondjes vs. Cheetahs – a conservation case study
Casper has every breed Flyball record!
Last weekend we drove nearly 1000 miles to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to compete in a wonderful charity Flyball tournament in Escanaba, MI. It was a UFLI tournament and Casper got a Singles spot so he could officially go for the Kooikerhondje speed record, which was the only North American breed Flyball record he … Continue reading Casper has every breed Flyball record!
Accessing Kooiker data in the Register/Zooeasy and joining the VHNK – AKA how to send Euros!
One of the "barriers to entry" for potential enthusiasts of Kooikerhondjes is that we as Americans aren't quite used to a structure where all of the information is "held" by a foreign organization. Most Americans also are unfamiliar with how to transfer money within the European system of bank accounts. It can be intimidating and … Continue reading Accessing Kooiker data in the Register/Zooeasy and joining the VHNK – AKA how to send Euros!
Contracts
I just read a surprisingly good article by AKC called "Sign Right Here: Everything You Need to Know About Breeder Contracts" and wanted to share. Contracts are an area of study I find personally fascinating, and I have drafted quite a few (and am currently waiting on lawyer review of one!). It's hard or impossible … Continue reading Contracts
Semen Collection & Freezing Journey
I found this post from nearly three years ago lurking in my "drafts" folder. I am publishing it in the stream-of-consciousness form as it was written at the time, and will add updates below. I wanted to write this down, primarily for future myself... because nobody talks about it! But we have recently undertaken the … Continue reading Semen Collection & Freezing Journey
Yes, Kooikers are inbred: population genetics
A few days ago I reposted the Institute of Canine Biology’s article “What Population Genetics Can Tell Us About A Breed," but substituted in the Kooikerhondje numbers. It has spawned a surprising amount of discussion by those who were unaware of the state of the breed population. Since this is important information, I will reshare … Continue reading Yes, Kooikers are inbred: population genetics
Thoughts on Kooikerhondje Temperament
Recently, someone new to the breed argued with me when I said I appreciated my dogs because unlike many Kooikers, they weren’t nasty. Perhaps “nasty” was the wrong word but the statement was more about my appreciation of my own dogs’ temperament than anything else, but it triggered some positive discussion. To my slight horror, … Continue reading Thoughts on Kooikerhondje Temperament
